The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon will not be holding its monthly Euchre Marathons in December, due to the busy holiday season. The Euchre marathons are typically held the third Thursday of each month at the Senior Citizens Room at the Waukon Wellness Center and will resume in January.

For more information on the monthly Euchre marathons or the Auxiliary itself, call Auxiliary President Nona Sawyer at 563-568-3105.

Gundersen Medical Foundation’s 11th annual Steppin’ Out in Pink proved pink is powerful. More than 6,100 walkers and 314 teams stepped out September 10 to help raise $395,000 for local breast cancer research.

Top Steppin’ Out in Pink fundraisers were recently announced. Leading the way was Gundersen Waukon Clinic’s “Wauk On Breast Cancer” team that brought in $2,431 and placed first in the Gundersen team competition. Last year, the team took second place in the same category.

“Our message this year was HOPE. We thank the Wauk On Breast Cancer team for embracing Steppin’ Out in Pink and giving hope to all those in the community that their gift will touch,” states Steppin’ Out in Pink chair Debbie Kroner, Gundersen Medical Foundation.

Many of the St. Patrick Church youth in Waukon came together for a community service project to benefit Veterans Memorial Hospital. Twenty-five students worked in small groups to make these fleece tie blankets. Some of these youth, pictured here, presented the blankets to hospital surgery staff members Tara Reisinger, RN and Julie Viet, RN, both pictured at far right. These blankets will be given to any children undergoing surgery in the near future at Veterans Memorial Hospital. Submitted photo.

The local Grief Support Group will hold its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon Wednesday, December 14 at 2 p.m. in the Medication Room of the hospital, which is located on the main level.

This informal meeting is open to anyone suffering from any type of loss, whether it be death, divorce, illness or some other grief.

Feel free to attend and bring a friend. This grief support group meets the second Wednesday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.

Let the holidays begin! Starting with Thanksgiving, many of us will attend several social events and parties up through New Year’s Day. It is tempting to just throw in the towel on our healthy eating and exercise plans until next year, but don’t do it! Avoid eating to the point of feeling “stuffed” at any of these events.

The key is to avoid the “all-or-nothing” way of thinking. If you tell yourself that you can eat, drink and be merry with reckless abandon for six weeks, you will pay for it later. Starting a new healthy eating plan January 1 sounds like a good idea, but why would you want to start it with an extra 10 pounds?

The New England Journal of Medicine published findings from a Tuff’s University study on weight gain during the holidays. It found that those who were already overweight were likely to gain more weight during the six-week holiday period than those who were considered average weight.

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon will begin the next Prepared Childbirth Education classes (formerly called Lamaze) Monday, January 9, and will continue them for two more consecutive Monday evenings beginning at 6 p.m. in the Large Conference Room.

The Prepared Childbirth Education classes at Veterans Memorial Hospital are offered in three sessions that allow the expectant parents to choose which topics they wish to learn more on. They may choose to attend one, two or all three sessions. Session 1 covers labor, delivery and the postpartum period following delivery; Session 2 includes relaxation, breathing and pain management; and Session 3 covers infant care. Tours of the OB Department are available with each session as well.

November is National Home Care Month. The purpose of home care is to keep people in their homes, near their families and in their communities for as long as possible. Home health care can provide a range of services including wound care, therapy, rehabilitative services following surgery and home infusion of drugs.

Home medical care is far less expensive than assisted living or long-term care and is covered by most insurance plans. Private insurance providers, such as Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and government policies, like Medicare and Medicaid, cover home health care from certified agencies. Most insurance plans require a prior authorization or prior approval before care is given as well as a treatment plan signed off by a doctor.

You have until December 7, 2016 to enroll in or change Medicare drug plans for 2017. Don’t wait until the last minute. Remember, if you’re on Medicare and don’t have drug coverage, or the coverage you have is not as good as Medicare’s, you will face a penalty for each month you delay enrolling.

If you have questions about Medicare drug coverage call your local SHIIP counselor at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411. SHIIP volunteers are available to meet individually with anyone in the community who wishes to compare the Medicare Part D plans available for 2017. Appointments are required and can be scheduled by calling Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon at 563-568-3411. You will need to bring your Medicare card, current Part D plan card and a list of your medications from your pharmacy. SHIIP is a free, confidential service of the State of Iowa.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Austyn Roger Seitz by Earl and Ruth Jones, Rick and Barb Jones and Tony, Rebecca and Ashlyn Seitz. In addition, a donation in honor of Bob and Agnes Anderson’s 70th Wedding Anniversary was received from Bob Dotseth.

Memorials were also received in memory of Evelyn Wild by Dave and Laurie Martin and Jim and Dorothy Waters, in memory of Kurt Rathbun by Ray and Lorriane Mitchell and Jane Dietrich, in memory of Martina Schlein Fritz by Harold and Shirley Marti and Patsy Kerndt, in memory of Lillian Stockman by Dave and Laurie Martin, and in memory of Bernice Schrobeck by Lois Evans.

Memorials and donations are greatly appreciated by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation, a 501C3 organization. All donations to the Foundation are tax deductible. Memorials and donations can be sent to 40 First Street SE, Waukon, IA 52172.